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These features can serve as a guidance for other technologies, though it is important to contextualize according to the prevailing geographical characteristics and socio-economic characteristics and particularities. Taking into account the&nbsp;'''five crucial factors of democratic design''' mentioned before, long lasting and sustainable technology are not considered among the features identified by SEI as it was not was part of their scope. However, granted warranties and good performance in tests ([[Portal:Solar|Pico PV]] and [[Quality Assurance of Improved Cookstoves (ICS)|Stoves]]) could be considered to supplement these other aspects, too.

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These features can serve as a guidance for other technologies, though it is important to contextualize according to the prevailing geographical and socio-economic characteristics and particularities. Taking into account the&nbsp;'''five crucial factors of democratic design''' mentioned before, long lasting and sustainable technology are not considered among the features identified by SEI as it was not was part of their scope. However, granted warranties and good performance in tests ([[Portal:Solar|Pico PV]] and [[Quality Assurance of Improved Cookstoves (ICS)|Stoves]]) could be considered to supplement these other aspects.

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== Importance of Colour ==

== Importance of Colour ==

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<span style="color:#FF0000;">When a design answers to what users want, it is just a matter of ensuring product information for&nbsp;<span style="font-size: 13.6px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)">potential customers and expect them </span>to try (purchase) the produc</span>t<ref>Rogers, E. M. (1995). Diffusion of innovations. Fourth edition. New York: The Free Press. Retrieved from https://books.google.de/books?hl=en&lr=&id=v1ii4QsB7jIC&oi=fnd&pg=PR15&dq=rogers+five+stages+of+adoption&ots=DK-osRTo8Q&sig=vJs6qGfhdKMg9YZ03_u55ombdng#v=onepage&q=stages%20adoption&f=false</ref>&nbsp;([[Drivers of Adoption: Innovation and Behavioural Theory|stages of the adoption process of ideas and technology]]). Furthermore,&nbsp;[[Commercialisation of Cookstoves|commercializing]] a product involves a set of activities to persuade customers. According to the marketing theory, 85% of customers place <u>colour </u>as a primary reason why they buy a product and <u>visual appearance</u> is a factor that 93%consumers consider overall .<ref>Kissmetrics. (2017). How do colors affect purchases? Retrieved from Kissmetrics Blog. A blog about analytics, marketing and testing: https://blog.kissmetrics.com/color-psychology/?wide=1</ref><br/>

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<span style="color:#FF0000;">When a design responds to what users want, it is just a matter of ensuring product information for&nbsp;<span style="font-size: 13.6px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)">potential customers and expect them </span>to try (purchase) the produc</span>t<ref>Rogers, E. M. (1995). Diffusion of innovations. Fourth edition. New York: The Free Press. Retrieved from https://books.google.de/books?hl=en&lr=&id=v1ii4QsB7jIC&oi=fnd&pg=PR15&dq=rogers+five+stages+of+adoption&ots=DK-osRTo8Q&sig=vJs6qGfhdKMg9YZ03_u55ombdng#v=onepage&q=stages%20adoption&f=false</ref>&nbsp;([[Drivers of Adoption: Innovation and Behavioural Theory|stages of the adoption process of ideas and technology]]). Furthermore,&nbsp;[[Commercialisation of Cookstoves|commercializing]] a product involves a set of activities to persuade customers. According to the marketing theory, 85% of customers place <u>colour </u>as a primary reason why they buy a product ,and <u>visual appearance</u> is a factor that 93% consumers consider overall .<ref>Kissmetrics. (2017). How do colors affect purchases? Retrieved from Kissmetrics Blog. A blog about analytics, marketing and testing: https://blog.kissmetrics.com/color-psychology/?wide=1</ref><br/>

Multicultural research approaches stress the importance of understanding the cultural interpretations and/ or associations of colour in product design, as these may result of century-old traditions, religious beliefs, contemporary influences, political an historical developments and form the cultural foundation of a country or people<ref name="TNS">TNS Multicultural Research Services. (2010). Multicultural Researach. A selection of expertise from TNS colleagues around the world. New York: TNS Multicultural Research Services. Retrieved from https://www.tns-infratest.com/presse/pdf/autorenbeitraege/10_41_ab_tns_mc_book_03-03-2010.pdf</ref>.&nbsp;Therefore the potential of knowing these particular interpretations should not be underestimated. Used in the right way could mean understanding the mind-set of customers not only in terms of what they want but also on terms of aesthetics. ‘The wrong choice of a products’ colour can result in a slow seller […] among the Massai (ethnic group from south of Kenya and northern Tanzania), there is a high probability that a product will sell if it has some red colour on it. Why? Because red is sacred, the colour of blood from their cattle, which they cherish so much’<ref name="TNS">_</ref>.<br/>

Multicultural research approaches stress the importance of understanding the cultural interpretations and/ or associations of colour in product design, as these may result of century-old traditions, religious beliefs, contemporary influences, political an historical developments and form the cultural foundation of a country or people<ref name="TNS">TNS Multicultural Research Services. (2010). Multicultural Researach. A selection of expertise from TNS colleagues around the world. New York: TNS Multicultural Research Services. Retrieved from https://www.tns-infratest.com/presse/pdf/autorenbeitraege/10_41_ab_tns_mc_book_03-03-2010.pdf</ref>.&nbsp;Therefore the potential of knowing these particular interpretations should not be underestimated. Used in the right way could mean understanding the mind-set of customers not only in terms of what they want but also on terms of aesthetics. ‘The wrong choice of a products’ colour can result in a slow seller […] among the Massai (ethnic group from south of Kenya and northern Tanzania), there is a high probability that a product will sell if it has some red colour on it. Why? Because red is sacred, the colour of blood from their cattle, which they cherish so much’<ref name="TNS">_</ref>.<br/>

Overview

Democratic Design

Designing a product is a process of solving problems creatively. Usually it considers not only the aesthetics and technological constrains, but also the user’s needs. A famous Swedish furniture and home accessories retailer (applying continuous product development) has identified five crucial factors for a democratic design, hence products have to be:

Functional

Beautiful

Long lasting

Sustainable

Affordable

These factors can also be considered in modern energy technologies design (i.e. efficient stoves and Pico PV lamps): ‘Products should be designed understanding that people want them to work, and to make life easier (function), that are beautiful (form), demand value for money (quality), care about the environment (sustainability) and are affordable (low price)’. [1]

Over the decades, continue development in design of improved stoves was possible as a result of caring not only about the shape, but doing things better according to people’s needs and wishes. This have been possible thanks to the feedback provided by the final users and taking a democratic design approach influencing from the conception to the final product.

User-Centred Design

Users dominate the market and therefore have the capability to determine the success of failure of a product. Consequently, it is uttermost to pay attention to the users’ needs and their cultural context to combine with technical factors when designing/ improving a product. In 2012, the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) carried out a study applying a qualitative ‘generative’ research methodologyto understand the needs and desires of people regarding an improved stove.

Ability to regulate temperature is essential, both for preparing different dishes and to provide greater freedom to perform other tasks at the same time as cooking.

Advantageous if it can be used both wood and dung as fuel.

Allow easy preparation of roti bread (core part of the local diet), requiring access to an open flame.

Portability is desirable, to enable cooking indoors and outdoors.

Appearance is important. Women consider clay stoves aesthetic appealing, in some instances have painted or decorated their stoves. By contrast, those asked did not like the appearance of metal stoves they have seen.

Willingness to pay is expressed for improved stoves that meets user’s needs, and consider that the current situation might be that users do not spend money on stoves or, in most cases, fuels.

These features can serve as a guidance for other technologies, though it is important to contextualize according to the prevailing geographical and socio-economic characteristics and particularities. Taking into account the five crucial factors of democratic design mentioned before, long lasting and sustainable technology are not considered among the features identified by SEI as it was not was part of their scope. However, granted warranties and good performance in tests (Pico PV and Stoves) could be considered to supplement these other aspects.

Importance of Colour

When a design responds to what users want, it is just a matter of ensuring product information for potential customers and expect them to try (purchase) the product[4] (stages of the adoption process of ideas and technology). Furthermore, commercializing a product involves a set of activities to persuade customers. According to the marketing theory, 85% of customers place colour as a primary reason why they buy a product ,and visual appearance is a factor that 93% consumers consider overall .[5]

Multicultural research approaches stress the importance of understanding the cultural interpretations and/ or associations of colour in product design, as these may result of century-old traditions, religious beliefs, contemporary influences, political an historical developments and form the cultural foundation of a country or people[6]. Therefore the potential of knowing these particular interpretations should not be underestimated. Used in the right way could mean understanding the mind-set of customers not only in terms of what they want but also on terms of aesthetics. ‘The wrong choice of a products’ colour can result in a slow seller […] among the Massai (ethnic group from south of Kenya and northern Tanzania), there is a high probability that a product will sell if it has some red colour on it. Why? Because red is sacred, the colour of blood from their cattle, which they cherish so much’[6].

User’s Feedback for Design: Lighting & Cooking Technologies

Before a product is launched into the market (pilot) or when it is already in the market, it is crucial to gather reliable systematic data that allows to obtain the experience of users with using the product, to hear them express their views that later can unleash changes in approaches and even design. Different discoveries in the field can provide relevant information to adapt the design to current needs and wishes, needless to say that feedback has an enormous potential.

The following Pico PV and improved cookstoves user’s claims were collected from different studies performed by various entities in different countries:

Pico PV

‘Easy Handling is required because the lamps are used for multiple purposed both inside and outside the house. The lamp should therefore be easy to take outside, for example by a handle bar, and should also be easy to hang inside. 11% of respondents cited handiness as an important feature’ [7].

‘17% of respondents described the robustness of the solar lamp as another factor of quality and stated that a lamp‘s material should not break easily. Parents can then allow their children to use the lamp without fear of broken lamps’[7].

Participants were also afraid that the pull-switch could break and 50% of respondents preferred a built-in-switch. With a built-in-switch users only have to press the button. This helps to gain more trust in the technique and the life-cycle of products’[7].

‘28% of households interviewed appreciated if the lamp had a regulator to change the intensity of illumination. As a consequence people can use the light at the level of brightness they need for their activity. It is therefore also possible to save energy’[7].

‘Apart from safety, ease of operation should not be set aside. 22% of households stated that the system should also be easy for children to use the system'[7].

‘In order to fulfill the various demands of the different family members inside and outside the house, 44% of interviewees expressed their wish for a portable system [...] Since it is portable to have it here and there, they can use it here and there in different areas. It is very simple, we can use it even in the kitchen or some other areas in the compound. The portability it has, makes us love it’[7].

‘Without being asked for it, 22% of respondents expressed their wish for other additional features, like a radio'[7].